Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski were the heroes for Barcelona as they prevailed 2-0 in the Catalan derby at Espanyol.

Espanyol had won their last five LaLiga matches prior to the winter break, which Barca approached with a four-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of the table.

The home side’s form and the return of Joan Garcia to the club he left for Barcelona in the summer made for a fierce atmosphere at the Cornella El-Prat.

It was the excellent performance of Garcia that prevented Espanyol from taking the lead as they had the better of the game for long periods.

And Espanyol were punished for failing to get the better of Garcia, Olmo bending home a sublime 86th-minute strike into the top-right corner.

Lewandowski then made the points safe, turning home a deflected effort in the 90th minute after excellent work on the break from Fermin Lopez.

More to follow